jhofficial
08-22-2007, 09:03 PM
By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't surprised his former assistant, Jeff Davidson, has worked his way to being offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.
"He's a smart guy. He's a hardworking guy," Belichick said earlier this week. "He obviously has a good background with the offensive line and tight end positions."
Belichick said he tried to sign Davidson as a player in 1994, when Belichick was coaching in Cleveland. Davidson, a guard and tackle, signed with New Orleans instead, but a shoulder injury that season ended his career.
Davidson joined the Saints as a volunteer assistant a year later. In 1997, he was hired by the Patriots, and Belichick kept him on staff when he took over as coach in 2000.
Davidson spent eight seasons with New England, serving as tight ends and assistant offensive line coach and helping the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles.
"He was a guy that I think really progressed a lot as a coach from the time that I got here until the time that he left. I have a lot of respect for Jeff," Belichick said. "I think he's really developed a good overall offensive knowledge of the game, not just an offensive lineman or tight end specific, but he's really worked hard to broaden that base and he's ascended to the coordinator position."
Davidson spent the past two seasons as an assistant in Cleveland before he was hired by Panthers coach John Fox to replace Dan Henning. On Friday, he'll get to test his new offense against Belichick and the Patriots.
"He's a guy that we knew all the way back from coming out of Ohio State as a player and then here as a coach," Belichick said. "He's a smart guy."
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IT'S SO HOT:@ Shirts were soaked in sweat, lots of fluids were being consumed and there was a search for shade.
And those were the reporters watching the Panthers practice on Wednesday.
Another day of searing heat greeted the team for the late morning workout. It was close to 100 degrees by the end of practice. The team has practiced in extreme heat for almost an entire month.
Fullback Brad Hoover is getting tired of it.
"This is my eighth season and this is the hottest camp," Hoover said. "It may not be by the heat index, but consecutive hot days and hot in general. It's tough."
Guard Mike Wahle said fatigue played a factor in the team's poor performance last week against Philadelphia. Hoover agreed practicing daily in extreme heat drains you.
"Hopefully it will make us stronger, but guys are tired right now," Hoover said. "Our legs are a little weak."
One suggestion Hoover has is to shorten the preseason, a common complaint among veterans who believe four preseason games are unnecessary.
"Way too many. I just think it takes a toll on your body," Hoover said. "If they could cut it to two (games) or even three, it would be better on us. But I also don't want to add another regular season game."
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QUICK HITS:@ Linebacker Na'il Diggs spent another practice riding a stationary bike. He suffered a hamstring injury early in camp, then aggravated it in Friday's preseason loss to Philadelphia. "We're just being very cautious," coach John Fox said. ... The Panthers face their first series of cuts Tuesday. They have to be down to the 53-man regular season limit by Sept. 1.
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August 22, 2007 - 4:49 p.m. EDT
Copyright 2007, The Associated Press.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't surprised his former assistant, Jeff Davidson, has worked his way to being offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.
"He's a smart guy. He's a hardworking guy," Belichick said earlier this week. "He obviously has a good background with the offensive line and tight end positions."
Belichick said he tried to sign Davidson as a player in 1994, when Belichick was coaching in Cleveland. Davidson, a guard and tackle, signed with New Orleans instead, but a shoulder injury that season ended his career.
Davidson joined the Saints as a volunteer assistant a year later. In 1997, he was hired by the Patriots, and Belichick kept him on staff when he took over as coach in 2000.
Davidson spent eight seasons with New England, serving as tight ends and assistant offensive line coach and helping the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles.
"He was a guy that I think really progressed a lot as a coach from the time that I got here until the time that he left. I have a lot of respect for Jeff," Belichick said. "I think he's really developed a good overall offensive knowledge of the game, not just an offensive lineman or tight end specific, but he's really worked hard to broaden that base and he's ascended to the coordinator position."
Davidson spent the past two seasons as an assistant in Cleveland before he was hired by Panthers coach John Fox to replace Dan Henning. On Friday, he'll get to test his new offense against Belichick and the Patriots.
"He's a guy that we knew all the way back from coming out of Ohio State as a player and then here as a coach," Belichick said. "He's a smart guy."
___
IT'S SO HOT:@ Shirts were soaked in sweat, lots of fluids were being consumed and there was a search for shade.
And those were the reporters watching the Panthers practice on Wednesday.
Another day of searing heat greeted the team for the late morning workout. It was close to 100 degrees by the end of practice. The team has practiced in extreme heat for almost an entire month.
Fullback Brad Hoover is getting tired of it.
"This is my eighth season and this is the hottest camp," Hoover said. "It may not be by the heat index, but consecutive hot days and hot in general. It's tough."
Guard Mike Wahle said fatigue played a factor in the team's poor performance last week against Philadelphia. Hoover agreed practicing daily in extreme heat drains you.
"Hopefully it will make us stronger, but guys are tired right now," Hoover said. "Our legs are a little weak."
One suggestion Hoover has is to shorten the preseason, a common complaint among veterans who believe four preseason games are unnecessary.
"Way too many. I just think it takes a toll on your body," Hoover said. "If they could cut it to two (games) or even three, it would be better on us. But I also don't want to add another regular season game."
___
QUICK HITS:@ Linebacker Na'il Diggs spent another practice riding a stationary bike. He suffered a hamstring injury early in camp, then aggravated it in Friday's preseason loss to Philadelphia. "We're just being very cautious," coach John Fox said. ... The Panthers face their first series of cuts Tuesday. They have to be down to the 53-man regular season limit by Sept. 1.
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August 22, 2007 - 4:49 p.m. EDT
Copyright 2007, The Associated Press.